Participation in extracurricular oral advocacy competitions is a central part of the academic experience of many BCLS students. All competitions require participation with a partner, either self-selected or assigned randomly from a pool of interested participants. Each competition concludes with a final round, open to the BCLS community.
First year law students find the experience of honing their Negotiation and Client Counseling skills during their first year valuable in many ways. The experience assists students to gain confidence speaking and thinking on their feet.
For second year students, the Grimes Moot Court competition is a prerequisite for selection as a member of an academic moot court team during the third year of law school. Since relatively few lawyers ever enjoy a real life experience in front of an appellate judge, the Moot Court Competition presents a unique opportunity to develop the skills of appellate oral advocacy.
For third year students, the Mock Trial competition offers an opportunity to serve as lead counsel for a hypothetical criminal or civil trial. The two winners of the Mock Trial Competition are offered a position on the National Mock Trial team. Participation in the competition is a prerequisite for participating in the National Mock Trial team during the third year of law school. In the competition, students prepare for and present all elements of a real trial: opening statements, closing arguments, direct and cross examinations of witnesses.
